Fusing silver jump rings to copper pieces

Hi All,

This is my first posting to the forum, and I hope someone can help
me.

I love fusing fine silver chain links, and I’ve recently fallen in
love with copper. I am combining these two loves by hanging fs chain
on to copper and linking copper pieces by fusing fs rings.

The frustrating part seems to be fusing the rings to connect the
copper pieces. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. Since the
fs rings are only 18 gauge, I’ve learned to pull the heat away if it
doesn’t fuse in a very short amount of time…this is because once I
left the flame on too long waiting for the melt, and the copper piece
and the fs wire fused together instead of the ring ends fusing.

I’m wondering if the copper pieces are acting as heat sinks, and if
that’s the case, how do I get around it? I’m using a butane
Microtorch…I make sure it fully loaded before I start.

I’v attached a photo of a pair of earrings I successfully made
(after a lot of trouble). I finished them by attaching one link at a
time…tedious, but I was determined to finish them. There’s got to
be a better way!

Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Betsy

[Edit]

Attachment removed:

How can I share files and pictures with the list?
http://www.ganoksin.com/gnkurl/ftp

Or… send the files to the attention of service@ganoksin.com and
we will upload them for you…

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